Let-off mechanism for looms



' N. R. WRIGHT LET-OFF MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed Aug. '15, 1922' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Get. 23 1923. 1,471,438

, N. R. WRIGHT LET-OFF MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed Aug. 15, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I "MR.Wr B77t Patented Get. 23, 1223.

M'ihddd NORMAN B. WRIGHT, OF EAS'ION, PENNSYLVANIA.

LET-OFF MECHANISM FOR LOOKS.

Application filed August 15, 1922. Serial No. 582,024.

1 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NORMAN R. WRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Easton, in the county of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Let- Ofi' Mechanism for Looms, of which the following is a specification.

. loom.

Another object of the invention is to provide for a uniform slippage of the warp beam as the warp, is taken off the beam so that there will be no uneven or defective places in the woven fabric.

Another object of the invention is to provide a let-o'fi' mechanism which will permit of the more ready and convenient dismount ing of an empty warp beam and the mounting of a filled one.

Another object of the invention is to provide a let-oil mechanism so constructed as to add considerably to the life of the loom mechanism and which will impose. less weight upon the floor than a mechanism 0 the type embodying weights In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the mechanism embodying the invention, the view illustrating also so much of the loom as is necessary to an understanding of the inve'ntion;

Fig. 2 is a vertical front to rear sectional view taken immediately adjacent one end of the warp beam. I

In the drawings the loom frame is indi cated in general by the numeral 1 and the same is provided with the usual bearings 2 for the trunnions 3 of the warp beam which is indicated by the numeral 4 The warp- 'beam 4is, as usual, provided with a friction drum 5 at each end, and the said beam and the parts previously described need not difier in any way from the ordinary construction. The tensioning means embodying the invention is duplicated at the opposite sides. of the loom and embodies friction elements 6 which are disposed about the drums 5 of the beam, each of these elements preferably comprising a strap 7 provided with a linin of blocks or wood segments 8 which are 011 treated so as to give the desired friction and yet permit of the required even slippage of the beam as the warp is taken off therefrom. One end of each of the straps 7 is connected by a shackle 9 with a plunger 10 working in a barrel 11 supported as at 12 in a substantially, rigid manner.

The plunger 10 comprises a stem 12 to which the shackle 9 is pivotally connected, and a head 13 which works in the barrel 11 and against which bears one end of a compression spring 14, the other end of the spring-'bearin against the end of the barrel through whic the stem works. The barrel 11 is preferably packedor partly filled with grease so as to lubricate the arts and likewise provide for a" more stead and gradual compression and expansion 0 the spring in the back and forth movement of the plunger. A U -shaped yoke 15 is provided at its connecting portion with an e e16, and the 0pposite ends of the space side members of the yokeare connected to the other end of the strap 7. This yoke preferably straddles the barrel 11 as illustrated clearly in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The numeral 17 indicates a hook formed at the end of a plunger stem 18 which stem works through one endof a barrel 19 similar to. the barrel 11 and housing a compression spring 20 which bears at one end against the head 21 of the plunger and at its other end against the end of the barrel through which the stem 18 slides.

The barrel 19 is connected at its lower end b a shackle 22 to a strap 23 which is led about the periphery of a take-up drum 24 fixed upon a shaft 25 mounted in suitablebearings upon the rear end of the frame of the loom, the other end of the strap 23 being secured as at 26 to the periphery ofthe' said drum. At this point it will be understood that two of the drums 24 are provided upon the shaft 25, being associated with the respective tensioning devices above described, rotation of the shaft 25 servin therefore to simultaneously and correspon in ly rotate the said drums 24 to uniformly ta e u or let out the strap 25, depten'ding upon t e direction in which the sha is rm tated. Rotation of the shaft in a direction to take up the straps 23 will, of course, efiect an increased tensioning of the friction elements t3. @n the other hand, rotation of the shaft 25 in the opposite direction will result in a decrease in the tension exerted on the elements 6. In order that the shaft 25 may be rotated for the purpose of suitably regulating the tension on the beam 4, a worm gear 27 is lined upon one end of the said shaft 25 at the outer side of the frame of the loom, and a worm 28 meshes with the worm gear and is providedat the lower end of a shaft 29 mounted in upper and lower bearings 30 and 31 upon said frame. A hand wheel 32 is provided at the upper end of the shaft and affords means whereby the shaft may be conveniently rotated by the loom tender. In order that the shaft may be held in various posit ons of its rotative adjustment, a ratchet wheel 33 is fixed upon the shaft, and a spring pressed pawl 34: is mounted upon the upper shaft bearing 30 and is engageable with the ratchet wheel 33. Preferably the pawl is provided with 3, lateral stud 35 engageable in a notch 36 in the housing 37 for the pawl so that when the said stud is will be in engagement with the ratchet wheel 33 to prevent rotation of the shaft, but when the pawl is retracted and rotated a short distance,the stud 35 may then seat against the end of the housing 37 to maintain the pawl in its retracted position and clear of the ratchet 33, thus permitting the shaft to be freely rotated in either direction.

A handle member 38 is preferably fixed in any suitable manner upon one of the trunnions 3 of'the beam at, preferably that trunnion which is located at the same side of the loom as the shaft 29, and by this handle member the beam may be rotated when it becomes necessary to tighten-the warp.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that there is provided a simple and yet highly efiicient means for tnsioning the warp beam and that the tensioning springs 14 and 20 and their respective barrels and plungers are so arranged as to provide for a steady and even rotation of the warp beam. it will also be understood that substitution of one beam for another may be readily and quickly effected as it is only necessary to rotate the shaft 29 to relieve the tension on he friction elements 6 and then disen age the hooked ends 17 of the plungers 18 from engaged in the notch the pawl ll ,dfill 338 the yokes 15 which will of course release one end of each of the elements 5 and permit these elements being thrown back out of engagement with the respective drums 5.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In let-off mechanism for looms, in combination with a warp beam having a friction drum, a relatively fixed barrel, a plunger working therein, a spring within the barrel opposing the movement of the plunger, a flexible friction element connected at one end with the plunger and engaged about the drum, and means connected wit the other end of the friction element and adjustable to exert a pull thereon against the tension of the spring, the last-mentioned means including a bodily adjustable barrel, a plunger therein having operative connection with the said last-mentioned end of the friction element, and a spring within the last-mentioned barrel yieldably resisting movement of the plunger.

2. ln let-off mechanism for looms, in combination with a warp beam having friction drums at its ends, a shaft journaled for rotation parallel to the beam, take-up drums fixed upon the shaft, flexible friction elements engaged about the respective drums.

tensioning means associated with one end of each of said friction elements, straps con nected to the peripheries of the take-up drums and to the other ends of the respective friction elements, and means for to tatably adjusting the said shaft.

3Q In let-off mechanism for looms, in combination with a warp beam having friction drums at its ends, a shaft journaled for rotation parallel to the beam, take-up drums fixed upon the shaft fiexible friction elements engaged about the respective drums, tensioning means associated with one end of each of said friction elements, straps connected to the peripheries of the t ke-up drums and to the other ends of the respective friction elements, and means for rotatably adjusting the said shaft, the said means comprising a manually rotatable shaft counter to the first-mentioned shaft and located in proximity to one side of the frame of the loom upon which the warp beam is mounted, and operative gear connection between the said shafts.

'ln testimony whereof'll affix my signature.

NUBMAN lit. WRIGHT. [n a] Mill Mid 

